HP StoreEver ESL G3 Tape Libraries - Manual (Page 171)

Figure 24 Applying barcode labels to cartridges
Using cleaning cartridges
Most tape drives require occasional cleaning. A cleaning cartridge cleans accumulated debris
from the tape drive and the read/write head.
CAUTION: You must use a separate cleaning cartridge for each partition in the library.
Backup applications or archive software applications use different techniques to automate the
process of cleaning drives. These tools specify cleaning cycles based on cycle counts of the drive,
drive requests, or regularly scheduled intervals.
The cleaning process itself requires certain considerations:
•
Cleaning tapes must be labeled with a barcode. In some cases, specific labels have been
established as industry standard. For instance, the prefix CLN might be used to identify a
cleaning tape. The library does not require a specific content to the label and accepts
conventional tape labels.
•
Insert a cleaning tape just as you do any other data tape. The most common method is by
means of the I/E station using host application control.
•
Cleaning tapes often have limited lives that can last only as long as 20 cycles. The controlling
host application manages the number of uses of a cleaning tape. Errors can occur if a tape
is inserted into a drive when the tape has already been used the maximum number of times.
•
Export a cleaning tape just as you would export any other data tape.
•
The concepts of physical and partitions must be considered when setting up cleaning procedures
and methods. In general, cleaning cartridges must be treated in the same manner as data
cartridges. Any physical cartridge (cleaning or data) can exist in only one partition. There
can be no sharing of cleaning cartridges between partitions.
Managing media
The LMC provides you with commands for:
•
Importing and exporting cartridges
•
Moving media from one storage location to another
•
Loading and unloading drives
•
Taking inventory
The following sections provide instructions for performing these tasks.
Using cleaning cartridges 171